Leaf bag compressing adapter device and method of using

ABSTRACT

An adapter device for suctioning air out of plastic bags of a type typically used for containing fallen leaves and other yard waste for disposal comprises a screen that surrounds a space that is connectable in fluid flow relation with the suction end of the vacuum hose, a shield positioned around the screen that is capable of preventing a plastic bag from being sucked by vacuum to the screen. The mouth of the shield is sized for blocking leaves or other yard waste matted in the bag from being sucked to the screen while allowing air in the bag to flow to the screen.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to yard waste handling equipment andmore specifically devices for compressing bags of leaves and other yardwaste.

State of the Prior Art

Many homeowners and professional yard care workers rake or otherwisegather fallen leaves in the fall and put them in plastic bags fordisposal. Fallen leaves are typically somewhat crisp and curled orotherwise irregular or non-planar in shape. Therefore, fallen leavestake up significant space in bags along with a substantial amount of airbetween the leaves. People often try to compact the leaves to get moreleaves in each bag or so that the bags of leaves take less space. Suchcompacting efforts are often quite primitive, including packing leavesinto the bags with hands or feet or squeezing or stepping on the bags.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations relatedtherewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Otherlimitations of the related art and other examples of related art willbecome apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of thespecification and a study of the drawings.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described andillustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which aremeant to be examples and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In variousembodiments and implementations, one or more of the above-describedproblems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments aredirected to other improvements and benefits.

An adapter device for adapting a suction end of a vacuum hose of avacuum cleaner for suctioning air out of plastic bags of a typetypically used for containing fallen leaves and other yard waste fordisposal comprises a screen formed in a manner that surrounds a spacethat is connectable in fluid flow relation with the suction end of thevacuum hose, wherein the screen and the space surrounded by the screenextends along a longitudinal axis for a screened length; a shieldpositioned around the screen a radially spaced distance outwardly fromthe screen and having a length that extends a distance longitudinallybeyond the screen to form a shield mouth, the shield being structured ina manner that is capable of preventing a plastic bag from being suckedby vacuum to the screen and the mouth being sized in a manner that iscapable of blocking leaves or other yard waste matted in the bag frombeing sucked to the screen while allowing air in the bag to flow to thescreen.

In addition to the example aspects, embodiments, and implementationsdescribed above, further aspects, embodiments, and implementations willbecome apparent to persons skilled in the art after becoming familiarwith the drawings and study of the following descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive,example embodiments and/or features of or relating to leaf bagcompressing adapter devices. It is intended that the embodiments andfigures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather thanlimiting. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example leaf compressing adapterdevice being held in a bag of leaves in preparation for connection ofthe device to a vacuum cleaner hose to compress the bag of leaves, aportion of the bag being cut away to reveal the leaves and example leafcompressing adapter device in the bag;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section view of the example leaf bagcompressing adapter device in the bag of leaves before compression isbegun;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section view of the example leaf bagcompressing adapter device in the bag of leaves similar to FIG. 2, butillustrating the bag of leaves partially compressed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section view of the example leaf bagcompressing adapter device in the bag of leaves similar to FIGS. 2 and3, but illustrating the bag of leaves fully compressed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the example leaf bag compressingadapter device in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the example leaf compressing adapterdevice in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the example leaf compressing adapter devicein FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the example leaf compressing adapterdevice in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is cross-section view of the example leaf compressing adapterdevice taken along section line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of another example compressing adapterdevice embodiment with a portion of the shield cut away to reveal theinlet screen; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of another example leaf bag compressingadapter device similar to FIG. 9, but with a frustoconical shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

An example compressing adapter device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as thecompressing adapter device 10 is being held by a person P in an openingO of a bag B containing leaves L in preparation for connection of thecompressing adapter device 10 to a suction end E of a vacuum hose H of avacuum cleaner V for compressing the bag B and the leaves L in the bagB. The compressing adapter device 10 in this illustration is beingapplied to compressing leaves L in the bag B, but it can also be usedfor compressing other kinds of waste materials, for example, grassclippings, shredded paper, and other waste materials of a type that arelow in density and typically placed in plastic bags for disposal.Therefore, while the description of the example compressing adapterdevice 10 and of its example application is being provided in relationto leaves L for convenience, it should be understood that it is alsoapplicable to other kinds of low density waste materials that aretypically bagged in plastic bags for transport or disposal.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1-4, the compressing adapter device 10is designed for use in compressing a low-density waste, e.g., leaves L,in a bag B, for example, by positioning the compressing adapter device10 in an opening O of the bag B, connecting a suction tube 12 of thecompressing adapter device 10 to suction end E of a vacuum hose H of avacuum creating apparatus V, and, tightening the opening O of the bag Baround the compressing adapter device 10, and suctioning the air out ofthe bag B. The vacuum creating apparatus V can be a conventional shop orhouse vacuum cleaner, a commercial yard waste vacuum apparatus, or anydevice that creates a sufficient vacuum with a sufficient mass flow rateto evacuate the air from the bag B and thereby compress the leaves L inthe bag to a desired density for disposal in a conveniently short time,for example, in a range of two to ten seconds. For convenience, thevacuum creating device V is sometimes called a vacuum cleaner V, butwith the understanding that it is not limited to a vacuum cleaner. Ofcourse, the compressing adapter device 10 can be connected to the vacuumhose H before the compressing adapter device 10 is placed into theopening O of the bag B, so the order of the steps in applying thecompressing adapter device 10 should not be viewed as limiting orlimited. A person P can apply the steps and operate the device in anyorder that is convenient.

As best seen in FIG. 2 in combination with FIG. 1, the examplecompressing adapter device 10 is shown positioned in the opening O ofthe bag B which is filled with leaves L. The bag B at the opening O canbe gathered and held around the periphery of the compressing adapterdevice 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 or retained in that position in anyother convenient manner. The suction tube 12 of the compressing adapterdevice 10 is connected to the suction end E of the vacuum hose H asshown in FIG. 2. This connection can be made in any convenient manner,for example, by inserting the section end E of the vacuum hose H intothe suction tube 12 of the compressing adapter device 10, which is aconventional manner of attaching vacuum cleaner accessories to vacuumhoses of shop and house vacuum cleaners. When the vacuum creating deviceV (FIG. 1) is operating, it creates a vacuum that sucks air from theinside of the bag B as illustrated by the air flow arrows 14, 16 in FIG.2, through the bottom opening or mouth 46 of the compressing adapterdevice 10 as illustrated by the air flow arrows 18, 20, and through thesuction end E of the vacuum hose H (FIG. 1). The bag B can be aconventional plastic trash bag or any bag that is impervious or at leastsomewhat impervious to air so that, as the air is sucked out of the bagB, air pressure inside the bag B decreases, whereby the atmosphericpressure outside of the bag B presses inwardly on the bag B asillustrated by the atmospheric pressure arrows 22 in FIG. 3 to compressthe leaves L as the bag B collapses.

The distal end 30 of the suction tube 12 defines an inlet opening 31 forthe suction tube 12, and the proximal end 34 defines an outlet opening35 for the suction tube 12. An inlet screen 26 surrounds a space 28,sometimes called an inlet zone, adjacent to the inlet opening 31. Ashield 24 keeps the bag B away from an inlet screen 26 and provides achannel 27 that facilitates air flow from the bag B toward distal end 30of the suction tube 12 as illustrated by the air flow arrows 18, 20. Theexample cylindrical shield 24 in FIGS. 1-4 is shown as cylindrical inshape, although other shapes could be used. The example cylindricalshield 24 has a significantly larger diameter than the suction tube 12so that the air flow 18, 20 through the cylindrical shield 24 issignificantly slower than the air flow 32 into and through the suctiontube 12. The slower air flow 18, 20 in the cylindrical shield 24minimizes likelihood that leaves L in the bag B will be sucked by theair flow 18, 20 toward the inlet opening 31 of the suction tube 12.However, in the event a few of the leaves L do get sucked by the airflow 14, 16 or 18, 20 toward the inlet opening 31, the inlet screen 26is provided to intercept and stop at least larger leaves L, asillustrated the leaves L1 and L2 in FIGS. 3 and 4, before they reach theinlet opening 31. A few smaller leaves (not shown) may pass through thesuction tube 12 and vacuum hose H without clogging, so the screen 26 canbe made with openings of sizes that would allow smaller leaves to passthrough the screen to the inlet opening 31 and get sucked into thevacuum cleaner without clogging the inlet opening 31, suction tube 12,or vacuum hose H, which would also minimize likelihood of the screen 26becoming clogged with such smaller leaves.

As the bag B is compressed by the atmospheric pressure 22 as explainedabove, the interior volume of the bag B is decreased as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. As the interior volume of the bag B is decreased, thebottom rim 36 of the shield 24 that forms the bottom opening or mouth 46may come in contact with the compressed leaves L in the bag B asillustrated in FIG. 4. While not essential to effective operation of thecompacting device 10, a notched, serrated, undulating, or otherirregular shaped rim 36 contacting the compressed leaves can enhance theflow of air 14, 16 out of the compressed leaves L. In the examplecompressing adapter device 10 in FIGS. 1-4, the bottom rim 36 is shownas notched, so that air emerging from leaves L in the vicinity of therim 36 can flow through the notches 38, even if the leaves 36 arepressed tight against the lower extremities of the rim 36 as illustratedin FIG. 4.

When the air pressure inside the bag B is lowered as much as the vacuumcreating device V has the capacity or ability to lower the pressure, thebag B can be considered as fully collapsed and leaves L can beconsidered to be fully compressed, as illustrated, for example, in FIG.4. Essentially, the combination of the resistance of the leaves L in thebag B to further compaction and the pressure of the remaining air in thebag reaches an equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure on the outsideof the bag B. At that point, further compaction of the leaves L isunattainable with that particular vacuum creating device V, so thecompressing adapter device 10 can be removed from the bag B. Of course,a user could decide to stop the compaction before leaves L are fullycompacted by removing the compressing adapter device 10 from the bag B,stopping the vacuum creating device B, or both.

As best seen in FIGS. 5-9, the example compressing adapter device 10 hasa suction tube 12 with a proximal end 34 that is sized and shaped forattachment to a vacuum hose H (FIGS. 1-4), for example, by snugglyreceiving a suction (distal) end of the vacuum hose H as explainedabove. Therefore, the diameter of the suction tube 12 in the examplecompressing adapter device 10 is about the same as the diameter of thevacuum hose H of the vacuum creating device V with which the compressingadapter device 12 is being operated—perhaps slightly larger or slightlysmaller, depending on whether the proximal end 34 of the suction tube issized to be inserted into the suction end E of the vacuum hose H or toreceive the suction end E of the vacuum hose H into the proximal end 34of the suction tube 12. In one example embodiment, the suction tube 12has an inside diameter in a range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches (38 to 76 mm),for example, 2.33 inches (59 mm), and a length in a range of 1.5 to 3.0inches (38 to 76 mm), for example, 2 inches (51 mm). The suction tube 12could be slightly tapered (e.g., wider at the proximal end 34 andnarrowing slightly toward the distal end 30) for a snug fit with asuction end E of a vacuum hose H.

The distal end 30 of the suction tube 12 terminates at an elongatedinlet screen 26. The example inlet screen 26 is in the shape of a figureof revolution that surrounds a space 28 adjacent to the inlet opening 31of the suction tube 12. For example, the inlet screen 26 in FIGS. 5-9 isa frustoconical shape, although a conical, cylindrical, spherical,pyramid, rectangular prism, or other solid geometric shape could be usedfor the inlet screen 26. The example frustoconical-shaped screen 26 maybe, for example, in a range of 1.5 to 3 inches (38 to 76 mm) in diameterand 1.5 to 3.5 inches (38 to 90 mm) long. The inlet screen 26 hasopenings around its circumference and distal end, with the openingsbeing 50 to 90 percent of the total area of the circumference and distalend.

The example shield 24 has a peripheral wall 44 that is connected at itsproximal end 24 to the suction tube 12 by an end plate 42 and extends tothe rim 36 at its distal end 41. The rim 36 forms the bottom opening ormouth 46 of the shield 24. The example shield 24 is cylindrical inshape, but it could be frustoconical, conical, spherical, pyramid,rectangular prism, or other solid geometric shape. The shield 24 has aninside diameter or width that is significantly greater than the insidediameter of the suction tube 12 so that the velocity of air flow in theshield 24 is significantly less than the velocity of air flow in thesuction tube 12. In one example embodiment, the inside diameter of theshield 24 is in a range of 1.5 to 3.5 times greater than the insidediameter of the suction tube 12. In one example embodiment thecross-sectional area of the shield 24 is in a range of 2 to 14 timeslarger than the cross-sectional area of the suction tube 12. In oneexample embodiment, the length of the shield 24 is in a range of 2 to 3times the inside diameter of the suction tube 12.

The inlet screen 26 extends from the inlet opening 31 of the suctiontube 12 along a longitudinal axis 48 toward, but not all the way to, themouth 46 at the distal end 41 of the shield 24 so that the rim 36 at thedistal end 41 of the shield 26 can hold the leaves L in the bag B awayfrom the inlet screen 26. In one example embodiment, the length h₂₆ ofthe inlet screen 26 is one-third to two-thirds the length h₂₄ of theshield 24. In one example embodiment, the inlet screen 26 extends fromthe inlet opening 31 a distance along the longitudinal axis 48 in arange of one-third to two-thirds of the inside length h₂₄ of the shield24 toward the mouth 46 at the distal end 41 of the shield 24. In oneexample embodiment, the inlet screen 26 extends from the inlet opening31 a distance along the longitudinal axis 48 of not more than one-halfthe length h₂₄ of the shield 24 toward the mouth 46 at the distal end 41of the shield 24.

In use, as explained above and shown in FIGS. 1-4, the wall 44 of theshield 24 holds the bag B away from the inlet screen 26 and provides achannel 27 for the flow of air 18, 20 from the interior of the bag B tothe inlet opening 31 of the suction tube 12. The rim 36 at the distalend 41 of the shield 24 keeps a distance between the leaves L in the bagB and the inlet opening 31 and holds the leaves L in the bag B fromreaching the inlet opening 31 so that the leaves L cannot clog the inletopening 31. The cross-sectional area of the flow channel 27 in theshield 24 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening31, so the air flow 18, 20 in the channel 27 is slower than the air flowinto the inlet opening 31, which reduces the likelihood that leaves Lget sucked from the bag B into the channel 27 and to the inlet screen26. The inlet screen 26 stops leaves, for example leaves L1 and L2 inFIGS. 3 and 4, that do get sucked into the channel 27 from reaching theinlet opening 31. As the air is sucked out of the bag B through thecompressing adapter device 10, the atmospheric pressure outside of thebag b collapses the bag b and compresses and compacts the leaves L inthe bag B, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Another example compressing adapter device embodiment 100 is shown inFIG. 10. The suction tube 112 and inlet screen 126 of the examplecompressing adapter device 100 are substantially the same as the suctiontube 12 and inlet screen 26 of the compressing adapter device 10described above and shown in FIGS. 5-9. However, the shield 124 of theexample compressing adapter device 100 has openings 150 through theperipheral wall 144 of the shield 124 instead of the solid wall 44 ofthe shield 24 in the example compressing adapter device 10 describedabove. Also, the shield 124 of the example compressing adapter device100 is connected to the suction tube 112 by spokes 142 instead of thesolid end wall 42 of the compressing adapter device 10 described above.The bag B (not shown in FIG. 10, but essentially the same as the bag Bin FIGS. 1-4) can still be gathered and sealed around the suction tube112 to prevent air flow from outside the bag B to the inlet opening 131of the suction tube 112, while the openings 150 in the wall 144 of theshield 124 facilitate air flow from the interior of the bag B throughthe shield 124 to the inlet opening 131, at least in the initial stagesof sucking the air out of the bag B. As the air is sucked out of theinterior of the bag B, atmospheric pressure outside of the bag Beventually collapses the bag B against the wall 44 of the shield 124,which closes the openings 150 to the flow of air, but the air from theinterior of the bag B can still flow through the bottom opening or mouth146 of the shield 124 and through the interior channel defined by thewall 144 of the shield 124 the same as described for the air flowthrough the channel 27 of the compressing adapter device 10 above.

The foregoing description provides examples that illustrate theprinciples of the invention, which is defined by the features thatfollow. Since numerous insignificant modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art once they understand theinvention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact exampleconstructions and processes shown and described above. Accordingly,resort may be made to all suitable combinations, subcombinations,modifications, and equivalents that fall within the scope of theinvention as defined by the features. The words “comprise,” “comprises,”“comprising,” “include,” “including,” and “includes” when used in thisspecification, including the features, are intended to specify thepresence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they donot preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, components, steps, or groups thereof.

The invention and several embodiments in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An adapter device foradapting a suction end of a vacuum hose of a vacuum cleaner forsuctioning air out of plastic bags containing fallen leaves and otheryard waste for disposal, comprising: a suction tube that has an insidediameter and an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end having asize and shape that is connectable to the suction end of the vacuumhose; a screen attached in fluid-flow relation to the inlet end of thesuction tube with an opening into the suction tube and formed with acircumferential periphery and a distal end that surround a spaceadjacent to the inlet end of the suction tube, which space is influid-flow communication with the suction tube through the opening ofthe screen into the suction tube, wherein the screen and the spacesurrounded by the screen extends along a longitudinal axis for ascreened length; and a shield comprising a proximal end, which isattached to the suction tube, and a peripheral wall positioned aroundthe screen a radially spaced distance outwardly from the screen andhaving a length that extends a distance longitudinally beyond the screento a rim with a plurality of notches that forms a shield mouth at adistal end of the shield such that the shield forms a channel forconducting an air flow from the mouth to the suction tube, the shieldbeing structured in a manner that is capable of preventing a plastic bagfrom being sucked by vacuum to the screen and the rim being sized in amanner that is capable of blocking leaves or other yard waste matted inthe bag from entering the channel and being sucked to the screen whilethe notches allow air in the bag, including air emerging from the leavesin the vicinity of the rim that are pressed tight against the rim, toflow into the channel and to the screen, wherein the screen extends fromthe inlet opening a distance in a range of one-third to two-thirds ofthe inside length of the shield toward the rim at the distal end of theshield, and wherein the length of the shield is in a range of 2 to 3times the opening of the screen into the suction tube, and wherein theshield has an inside diameter in a range of 1.5 to 3.5 times greaterthan the inside diameter of the suction tube to provide an air flowvelocity reduced from an air flow velocity in the vacuum hose to avoidsucking the leaves in the bag to the screen while sucking air out of thebag.
 2. The adapter device of claim 1, wherein the circumferentialperiphery and distal end of the screen have a total screen area andopenings in the screen comprise 50 to 90 percent of the total screenarea.
 3. The adapter device of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of theshield includes an end plate that is attached to the suction tube. 4.The adapter device of claim 3, wherein the rim has an irregular shape.5. The adapter device of claim 1, wherein the shield is a hollowcylinder in shape.
 6. The adapter device of claim 1, wherein the shieldis a hollow frustoconical shaped shield with a proximal end that islarge enough in diameter to surround the screen and to attach to thesuction tube and with a distal end that is larger in diameter than theproximal end.
 7. The adapter device of claim 1, wherein the shield isimpervious to air.
 8. The adapter device of claim 1, wherein the shieldhas an inside diameter or width that is greater than the inside diameterof the suction tube, and the inlet screen is an extension of the suctiontube and tapers from the inside diameter of the suction tube to aninside diameter at the distal end of the inlet screen that is smallerthan the inside diameter of the suction tube.
 9. A method of compressingleaves or other yard waste in a plastic bag, comprising: connecting anadapter device for suctioning air out of the plastic bag to a vacuumcreating device, wherein the adapter device comprises: (i) a suctiontube that has an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end having asize and shape that is connectable to a suction end of a vacuum hose ofthe vacuum creating device; (ii) a screen attached in fluid-flowrelation to the inlet end of the suction tube and formed with acircumferential periphery and a distal end that surround a spaceadjacent to the inlet end of the suction tube, wherein the screen andthe space surrounded by the screen extends along a longitudinal axis fora screened length; and (iii) a shield comprising a proximal end, whichis attached to the suction tube, and a peripheral wall positioned aroundthe screen a radially spaced distance outwardly from the screen andhaving a length that extends a distance longitudinally beyond the screento a rim with a plurality of notches that forms a shield mouth at thedistal end of the shield such that the shield forms a channel forconducting air flow from the mouth to the suction tube, the shield beingstructured in a manner that is capable of preventing a plastic bag frombeing sucked by vacuum to the screen and the rim being sized in a mannerthat is capable of blocking the leaves or other yard waste matted in thebag from entering the channel and being sucked to the screen while thenotches allow air in the bag, including air emerging from the leaves inthe vicinity of the rim that are pressed tight against the rim, to flowto the screen, wherein the inlet screen extends from the inlet opening adistance in a range of one-third to two-thirds of the inside length ofthe shield toward the rim at the distal end of the shield, and whereinthe length of the shield is in a range of 2 to 3 times the insidediameter of the suction tube, and wherein the shield has an insidediameter in a range of 1.5 to 3.5 times greater than the inside diameterof the suction tube to provide an air flow velocity reduced from an airflow velocity in the vacuum hose to avoid sucking the leaves in the bagto the screen while sucking air out of the bag; positioning the adapterdevice in an opening of the plastic bag and closing the opening of theplastic bag around the shield of the adapter device such that air fromoutside the plastic bag is inhibited from entering the plastic bag; andapplying the vacuum creating device to suck air out of the plastic bagthrough the adapter device.